New delegate bill passes US House panel

The newly introduced CNMI delegate bill has unanimously passed a U.S. House panel and is now up for floor discussion, according to Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio yesterday.

In his 2005 report to Legislature, Tenorio disclosed that the bill, H.R. 873, was unanimously approved yesterday by the House Resources Committee, chaired by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.).

“I am happy to report to you that today, chairman Pombo’s committee on resources had marked up the NMI delegate bill and provided its unanimous approval for our delegate bill to move forward for a floor debate in the House of Representatives. We should all hope and pray that the House will pass our bill so that it could move to the Senate for action in the very near future,” said Tenorio.

He said the CNMI is fortunate to have bipartisan support on the bill.

At the same time, he said the CNMI received “encouraging statement of support” from the delegates of other territories and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Pombo, in a statement read by Tenorio yesterday, said the unanimous vote “puts the residents of the CNMI all that much closer to having the voice in Congress they deserve.”

Tenorio also credited Gov. Juan N. Babauta for the smooth passage of the bill at the committee level. He said he has asked the governor to contact long-time CNMI critic U.S. Rep. George Miller “to encourage him to support our bill as he did previously.”

Miller had supported the passage of the delegate bill last year, citing reforms in the CNMI immigration and labor initiated by the Babauta administration.

“Cong. Miller’s support is extremely very important as he is both a senior member of the committee, very knowledgeable about our problems, and I must say has always been vigilant about our issues and shortcomings, and he continues to be interested,” he said.

Pombo introduced H.R. 873 in February this year. The measure is identical to last year’s bill, H.R. 5135, which had passed Pombo’s committee but did not get to the Senate on time before the 108th Congress adjourned.

Tenorio is positive that bill has more time now to pass both houses of Congress within the year. If the bill is passed this year, it would mean holding an election for a House delegate by next year. This would result in the CNMI having to hold an election every year.

The CNMI holds its general elections in November this year. After every two years, the Commonwealth holds its mid-term elections.